Alarm device for track-sanders.



J. H. HANLON.

ALARM DEVIOE FOR TRACK SANDERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7, 1913.

1, l 1 73941 Patented NOV. 10, 1914.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO, PHO'ID-LITHO. WASHINGTON. D. C

JOHN H. HANLON, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ALARM DEVICE FOR TEASE-SANDERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

Application filed March 1913. Serial No. 752,597.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN H. I-IANLoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Alarm Devices for Track-Sanders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My'invention relates to alarm devices for track sanders and the like. In the operation of track sanders it is essential that there be some device which shall indicate to the engineer when the sander is in operation to prevent waste of sand and loss of air from the compressed air system. Heret'ofore, so far as known to me, it has been customary to provide a special engineers valve having therein some form of warning port so that a flow of air through the said alarm port will notify the engineer that the valve is open. These valves are expensive and I find that they are frequently unsatisfactory in use be cause it is sometimes difficult or impossible to locate them in such a position that the engineer can hear or feel the escape of air. Furthermore,'it is usually necessary to take the valve apart to clean it on account of the tendency of the alarm port to become stopped up by grease and dirt from the air pump. The use of alarm devices is increasingly important because most railways have strict rules prohibiting the use of sand when the engine is passing over interlocln'ng switches, as the sand interferes with the operation of the switches. Furthermore if the sand is wasted by the valve being continuously open the sand is likely to become eX- hausted and the engineer may be unable to control the train in case of an emergency owing to the lack of sand.

My invention provides an alarm device which is in the form of a pipe fitting and is independent of the engineers valve so that it may be inserted in the track sander air pipe at any convenient point where it will notify the engineer when the sander is in use. The use of my alarm device also reduces the expense of track sander systems, because standard globe valves or similar valves may be used as cab valves and these may be purchased much more cheaply than the special valves heretofore employed. If desired, the device embodying my invention may be located near or adjacent to the globe valve so that it will blow against the underside of the engineers hand or wrist, when the valve is open, or it may be placed at some point in the cab close to the engineers head or car so that the escape of the air will make a sound close to his ear or will blow against his face. The alarm device is also so constructed that the alarm port may be cleaned by a pin or a needle without disturbing the system in any way. The device embodying my invention also serves by Variations in the loudness of the noise produced to indicate the amount which the valve is open, so that it also enables an ordinary globe valve to be used instead of a special valve having graduated openings.

The invention will be fully understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof are pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the close of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical section of my device shown in connection with the globe valve of ordinary construction. Fig. 2 shows a device embodying my invention in modified form.

Referring to the drawings, andmoreparticularly to Fig. 1 there is shown at A a globe valve of ordinary construction, the handle being indicated at B. At C is shown the body of the fitting composing the alarm device. This fitting is in the form of an elbow. The fitting is screw threaded at 11 to engage a proximate section of a pipe or the globe valve as shown. It is also screw threaded as shown at 12 for engagement with the pipe leading to the track sander. The air passage 18 through the body makes a right angle as shown and at 14. opposite the point of entrance of the air is a small cavity or pocket connected with the interior of the body C by a port 15. Opposite the port 15 is located a port 16 which communicates with the outer air. It will be seen that the port 15 is in line with the direction of flow of the air as it enters the fitting. The de vice shown is conveniently constructed by drilling the pocket 14 and then closing the outer end of the pocket by a thin cap 17 which is brazed or otherwise suitably secured in place. The air from the source of supply, after passing through the valve A rushes through the port 15 into the pocket 14 and escapes through the small port 16. I find in practice that this arrangement produces a sharp hissing or whistling sound well adapted to be heard in a noisy place such as a locomotive cab. The port 15 is in line with the direction of flow of the air 10m the valve, and therefore receives the full effect of whatever pressure there is of the air escaping through the globe valve. This is important because the construction is such that a hissing or whistling noise will be produced at lower pressures than would otherwise be the case.

In Fig. 2 I have shown another form of my device which may be more convenient under certain conditions. In this figure the globe valve is shown at A, the body of the warning device at D and the low pressure pipe leading to the sander nozzle at E. In line with the direction of flow of air from the globe valve A is located a port F com municating with a pocket Gr closed by a small screw plug H. The warning port K leads to the outer air and in this case is vertical so as to blow against the underside of the engineers hand or wrist.

What I claim is;

1. The improved alarm device in combination with inlet and exhaust connections comprising a hollow body having an angular passage therethrough for the transmission of a continuous flow of air from said inlet to said exhaust connection, a partition in said body at the angle of said passage forming a separate chamber in said body and located directly in the line of flow from said inlet connection, said partition having a port therein leading from said passage to said separate chamber, and a port in the outer wall of said chamber leading to the atmosphere.

2. The improved alarm device, comprising a body having an angular passage therethrough and provided with inlet and outlet openings, a partition forming a separate chamber in said body located at the angle of said passage and provided with a port directly opposite said inlet opening, and an external port leading into said separate chamber.

The improved alarm device comprising a body having an angular passage there through and provided with inlet and outlet openings, a partition in said body directly opposite said inlet opening comprising a portion of a wall of said passage and forming a separate chamber in said body, said partition having a port therethrough leading from said passage to said separate chamher, and said separate chamber being provided with a detachably secured external wall having a port therein.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN H. HANLON.

Witnesses Gnonen P. DIKE, ALICE H. MORRISON.

iflopiuet this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommisaioner or Watch, Washington, D. G. 

